NATICK, Mass., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The first patient has been implanted with the Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) next generation INGEVITY pacing leads in a clinical trial designed to establish the safety, performance and effectiveness of the leads. Pacing leads are insulated wires that connect an implantable pacemaker to the heart for treatment of bradycardia, a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, depriving the body of sufficient oxygen. Pacemakers work in conjunction with leads to sense and stimulate (or pace) the heart, thus maintaining an appropriate heart rate for a given level of physical activity.

The INGEVITY pacing lead platform is designed to provide key enhancements in maneuverability, reliability, fixation and electrical performance compared to standard leads available today. In addition, INGEVITY leads are specifically engineered to function in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. Many patients with pacemakers are restricted from undergoing MRI scans, as powerful magnets may interfere with pacemaker functionality.

"Our research and development efforts focus on consistency, repeatability and industry-leading reliability," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of the Cardiac Rhythm Management business at Boston Scientific. "We believe INGEVITY reflects all of these design principles, with the goal of improving the quality of patient care across the globe."

The first patient implant occurred in October in Stockholm, Sweden by Dr. Fredrik Gadler, associate professor, head of Cardiology and director of Pacing and ICD at Karolinska University Hospital.

"I was impressed with the performance of the INGEVITY lead during the implant procedure," said Dr. Gadler. "I felt very in control while maneuvering the lead, which allowed me to place the lead precisely where I intended."

The INGEVITY trial is a prospective, non-randomized, multi-center, global clinical study designed to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CE Mark and other regulatory approvals. The trial is expected to enroll approximately one thousand patients at 100 centers worldwide in 16 countries. The INGEVITY leads are expected to be paired with the Boston Scientific Ingenio family of pacemakers.

In the first half of 2013 the company also expects to begin a separate clinical trial, designed to evaluate INGEVITY leads paired with Ingenio pacemakers for use in an MRI setting, to support FDA regulatory approval for this system combination. The company expects to seek approval for this system combination in other markets as well. The Boston Scientific ImageReady MR Conditional pacing system, which features Ingenio MR Conditional pacemakers paired with FINELINE leads, received CE Mark approval earlier this summer.

INGEVITY pacing leads are investigational devices and not available for sale.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.

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